Atomistic mechanism of hydrogen release in magnesium nanoparticles

摘要

According to Uppsala University Professor Raajev Ahuja, his international research team has demonstrated an atomistic mechanism of hydrogen release in magnesium nanoparticles-a potential hydrogen storage material. The findings were recently published in the online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS). Ahuja says, "It is becoming clear that cars of the future will have to move from using the combination of petrol and a combustion engine in order to combat global warming and potential oil shortages. One of the prime candidate technologies are fuel cells using hydrogen gas as fuel, chiefly because hydrogen is among the most abundant elements on earth and is able of producing energy through chemical reactions with oxygen in the fuel cells releasing only water-an environmentally benign by-product. Storing hydrogen gas in a compact way is, however, still an unsolved problem."